Drainage bag

ABSTRACT

A closed system urine collection bag having a rigid combined drip chamber and bifurcated inlet tubes having their ends communicating with the bag adjacent opposite upper corners thereof and firmly secured thereto, thereby acting as a spreader to stabilize the form of the bag, the drip chamber and tubes constituting a carrying handle, and the medial upper edge of the bag being further stabilized by a rigid bar extending horizontally between spaced points of fixation to the inlet tubes.

United States Patent Ericson [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] DRAINAGE BAG [72]Inventor: Richard E. Ericson, Keene, NH.

[73] Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ.

[22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 75,506

[52] U.S. Cl ..128/275, 4/110 [51] int. Cl. ..A61i 5/44 [58] Field ofSearch ..128/D1G. 24, 275, 294, 295; 4/1 10 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,318,872 10/1919 Hofstetter ..128/295 2,815,025 12/1957Fenton et al.... ..128/275 3,332,422 7/1967 Jinkens et a1. ..128/2753,537,109 ll/1970 Spurrier et al. ..128/275 X 3,537,455 11/1970 Skyleset a]. 128/275 3,568,965 3/1971 Clark l28/275 Primary Examiner-CharlesF. Rosenbaum Attorney-W. Saxton Seward [5 7] ABSTRACT A closed systemurine collection bag having a rigid combined drip chamber and bifurcatedinlet tubes having their ends communicating with the bag adjacentopposite upper corners thereof and firmly secured thereto, therebyacting as a spreader to stabilize the form of the bag, the drip chamberand tubes constituting a carrying handle, and the medial upper edge ofthe bag being further stabilized by a rigid bar extending horizontallybetween spaced points of fixation to the inlet tubes.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHARZI m2 SHEET 2 [IF 4 INVENTORRICHARD E. ER ICSON PAIENTEUMARm I972 SHEET 3 OF 4 FIG. 4

FIG. 6

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAYENTEDHARZI I972 3.650.272

sum u or 4 INVENTOR RICHARD E. ERICS'ON BY v) f A Z11, m ATTORNEYDRAINAGE BAG This invention relates to the drip chamber and collectionbag portion of a closed urinary drainage system, the remaining elementsof such a system (i.e., the catheter and drainage tube) being of anynormal and suitable type.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inlet assembly which isrigid, and which includes a drip chamber from the base of which integralinlet tubes extend laterally to points adjacent to, but spaced from, theupper corners of a flat bag, the inlet assembly constituting a carryinghandle.

It is a further object to provide such a bag in which the wet path,along which bacteria could migrate, is not only interrupted at the dripchamber but is extended and tortuous between the drip chamber and theliquid level in the bag, to further discourage the communication ofinfection back to the patient.

It is another object to provide a drainage bag of exceptional strengthand durability, yet of such simplicity that it is inexpensive to makeand is fully disposable after a normal term of use by a single patient.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a front elevation of the bag;

FIG. 2 represents a rear elevation of the bag;

FIG. 3 represents a front perspective view of a modified form of bag;

FIG. 4 represents a side elevation of the bag with the outlet tube inclosed position; 1

FIG. 5 represents a side elevation, opposite from FIG. 4, and with theoutlet tube in open position;

FIG. 6 represents a bottom plan view of the bag as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 represents a top plan view of the bag as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 represents a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 represents a vertical section on the line IXIX of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 represents a detail horizontal section on the line X-X of FIG.1.

Referring to the drawings, the bag 10 is constituted by complementaryfront and back walls 11, 12 of plastic sheets, at least one of which ispreferably transparent to permit ready observation of the liquid levelin the bag. The inner surface of at least one wall is preferablyroughened, as by calendering the surface or embossing the sheet, toensure separation of the walls as liquid enters the bag. In the formshown, the bag has a wide somewhat kidney-shaped outline, the sheetsbeing sealed together around their entire peripheries. The opposite sideedges l3, 14 are substantially vertical or sloped slightly inward whilethe profile of the bottom edge 15 is convex downwardly to form a sumpportion 16in certain bag positions, as later explained. The middle upperedge is horizontal and provided with a narrow tab 17 between seal lines18' and 18, the tab having spaced elongated perforations 19 forengagement with a support bar. Each upper corner of the bag extendsupward to form ears 20, 21.

The liquid inlet assembly comprises a cylindrical drip chamber 22conveniently made in two parts, the upper part 23 being cylindrical witha top wall 24 traversed by the downwardly extending inlet sleeve 25, andthe lower part 26 being tapered (FIG. 9) and formed integrally with thelaterally and downwardly extending inlet tubes 27, 28. The parts 23, 26are securely cemented together at 29 and a flexible drainage tube 30 iscemented in the sleeve 25 centrally of the compartment formed by theparts 23, 26 to constitute a drip chamber, adapted most effectively tointerrupt the liquid path from the bag to the drainage tube. For afurther discussion of the function of a drip chamber in a closed system,see applicants US. Pat. No. 3,343,542.

In each of the ears 20, 21, there is an opening 31, 32 and side spouts33, 34 are affixed to the front wall 11 by means of the flat baseportions 35, 36, so disposed that the spout openings are alined with thetubes 27, 28, the ends of which are inserted in and cemented to therespective spouts.

While the tubes 27, 28 are rigid and their attachment to the spouts 33,34 and ears 20, 21 is secure enough to support the bag without more, asindicated in FIG. 3, it is preferable to add the flat rigid support bar37 (FIG. 2) which extends horizontally adjacent the tab 17, is connectedintegrally at its ends to the tubes 27, 28 through extensions 38, 39,and is provided with elongated projections 40 of a size and locationsuch as to engage tightly in the perforations 19. The extensions 38, 39may conveniently be provided with holes 38', 39 for cooperation withcertain types of bag hangers.

For emptying the bag, there is provided a drawoff tube 46 mounted on aspout 41 which communicates with the bag interior through the wall 11 inthe region of the sump 16. The spout 41 extends perpendicularly from theannular base 42 cemented to the wall 11. In its non-draining (closed)position, the free end of the tube 40 is snugly housed in the downwardlyopen pocket 43, which is fixed on the front wall 11 of the bag at apoint directly above the sump 16. When the tube 40 is turned up to theclosed position, it turns the spout 41, base 42 and sump portion 16 ofthe bag through around a horizontal fold line 1l-12, thus tending toclose off the sump from communication with the remaining interior of thebag. This closing tendency disappears when the drawoff tube 40 islowered to or below the emptying position shown in FIG. 5, and the bagcan be emptied and reclosed without interruption of its functioning aspart of a closed drainage system.

In use, the tube 30 is normally connected to a catheter having itsdistal end retained in a body cavity, particularly the bladder. The tube30 is initially capped in a customary manner, and the drawoff tube 40 isin closed position, so that the system can be supplied with its interiorsterile and adapted to be kept closed during operation. Undesirablesuction effects in the descending drainage tube can be most simplyavoided by using a tube which has a large enough internal diameter(e.g., one-half inch or more) to allow free flow of liquid withoutformation of a hung-up column or slugs.

As actually constructed, this bag has a maximum capacity of 2,000 cc. asindicated by the scale 44. The wide shape of the bag is such that alower corner can be provided with a supplementary scale 45 for finemeasurement up to I00 cc. by tipping the bag sidewise about 45.

What is claimed is:

1. A urine collection bag for operative association with a drainagetube, comprising front and back flexible plastic walls peripherallysealed together to form a closed receptacle, inlets extending throughone of said walls at horizontally spaced points adjacent the upper edgeof the bag, relatively stiff inlet tubes extending from said inlets to apoint midway between and higher than said inlets and a chamber at saidlast named point integral with and in communication with each said inlettube and with a drainage tube.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the bag includesa middle straight horizontal portion and upwardly extending comerportions, each inlet extending through the bag wall substantially in oneof said corner portrons.

3. A bag according to claim 2 wherein said straight portion is spacedbelow said inlet tubes and chamber sufficiently to permit said tubes andchamber to be used as a carrying handle.

4. A bag according to claim 2 which includes a support bar having itsends connected to said tubes, respectively, and being provided withmeans for engaging the bag adjacent said straight portion at one or morepoints.

5. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the bag has adownwardly convex profile, the middle portion being adapted toconstitute a sump, and which includes outlet means associated with saidsump.

6. A bag according to claim 5 wherein the outlet means includes adrawoff tube having one end fixed to a wall of the bag and movable froma closed position wherein the walls of the bag are folded adjacent thesump to an open position wherein said walls are unfolded and the bagcontents can flow out through said drawoff tube.

7. A bag according to claim 6 which includes means for 9. A bagaccording to claim 6 wherein the point of fixation releasably holdingthe drawoff tube in its closed position f the d fi tube is so spaced fthe lowest part f the 8. A bag according to claim 6 wherein the drawofftube is l ower edge that the wall fold lme m closed position has a fixedto said bag wall by means of an annular base attached to length lessthan half the width of the bag the wall and a tubular spout projectingfrom said base at substantiallyaright angle. s r w 1: :u

1. A urine collection bag for operative association with a drainagetube, comprising front and back flexible plastic walls peripherallysealed together to form a closed receptacle, inlets extending throughone of said walls at horizontally spaced points adjacent the upper edgeof the bag, relatively stiff inlet tubes extending from said inlets to apoint midway between and higher than said inlets and a chamber at saidlast named point integral wiTh and in communication with each said inlettube and with a drainage tube.
 2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein theupper edge of the bag includes a middle straight horizontal portion andupwardly extending corner portions, each inlet extending through the bagwall substantially in one of said corner portions.
 3. A bag according toclaim 2 wherein said straight portion is spaced below said inlet tubesand chamber sufficiently to permit said tubes and chamber to be used asa carrying handle.
 4. A bag according to claim 2 which includes asupport bar having its ends connected to said tubes, respectively, andbeing provided with means for engaging the bag adjacent said straightportion at one or more points.
 5. A bag according to claim 1 wherein thelower edge of the bag has a downwardly convex profile, the middleportion being adapted to constitute a sump, and which includes outletmeans associated with said sump.
 6. A bag according to claim 5 whereinthe outlet means includes a drawoff tube having one end fixed to a wallof the bag and movable from a closed position wherein the walls of thebag are folded adjacent the sump to an open position wherein said wallsare unfolded and the bag contents can flow out through said drawofftube.
 7. A bag according to claim 6 which includes means for releasablyholding the drawoff tube in its closed position.
 8. A bag according toclaim 6 wherein the drawoff tube is fixed to said bag wall by means ofan annular base attached to the wall and a tubular spout projecting fromsaid base at substantially a right angle.
 9. A bag according to claim 6wherein the point of fixation of the drawoff tube is so spaced from thelowest part of the lower edge that the wall fold line in closed positionhas a length less than half the width of the bag.